Susan
presented the Directors Report. She said
the Federal Communications Commission has issued regulations for CIPA
(Childrens Internet Protection Act) and NIPA (Neighborhood Internet
Protection Act), and that these regulations would begin taking effect
July 1, 2001. By October 28, libraries applying for the E-Rate must certify
that they have, or are seeking, filtering technology.

The filtering
requirement will apply to all computer stations. There will be a posting
of public notices and a comment period in each community. ODL will provide
packets of information and will be holding workshops for the states
public libraries.

Ms. McVey
said the bill changing the ODL Board make-up is progressing through the
State Legislature. To accommodate the loss of a U.S. Congressional District,
two of the seven ODL Board members would fill at-large positions.

Benny
Briggs asked how libraries would select filtering software, and if there
were a list of approved filters for libraries. Ms. McVey said the decision
would be local. She was not aware of any lists, but the Gates Foundation
maintains a list of filters that will work with the equipment they granted
to state libraries.

Jesse
Harris asked about the potential conflict between federal filtering laws
and the proposed state filtering law. Ms. McVey said it appears the State
Legislature may be postponing action on passing an Oklahoma law. This
would give libraries a chance to see how the federal law is working prior
to the State implementing legislation that could cause a conflict.

Mr. Harris
asked about the provision that required all computers to be filtered.
Ms. McVey said libraries would be able to disable filters for adults doing
legitimate research. Mr. Petete asked how this would be determined. Ms.
McVey said the FCC did not rule on this and that it is being left to the
local libraries.

Mr. Harris
asked about topics to be filtered. Ms. McVey said obscenity and materials
considered harmful to minors had been identified.

Mr. Petete
asked if libraries would be able to disable filters to assist children
doing legitimate research. Ms. McVey said libraries probably could not
go against federal rules and still receive funding. She said libraries
not receiving the E-Rate do not have to comply, but that most libraries
need the funds and wont have a choice.

Mr. Petete
asked ODLs AG Liaison, Dan Connally, if the AGs office would
be available to answer filtering questions for libraries. Mr. Connally
said it would, and that he anticipated most questions would come to the
office through Susan. He said the filtering requirements are a very grey
area, legally speaking.

Bill
Young reported on the Oklahoma Book Awards, held March 10 at the Petroleum
Club. He said the Center for the Books board was so impressed with
the new location that it had decided to also hold next years ceremony
at the Petroleum Club.

Donna
Skvarla introduced a new publication, Trustee Talk, to the board. The
publication provides information on current issues and gives the agency
a chance to touch base with public library trustees beyond annual training.

Ms. McVey
asked if the board had questions about the Directors Report.

Mr. Harris
asked about the Tishomingo librarys grand opening. Ms. McVey said
she was impressed that people were busy using the library in the middle
of the grand opening ceremony. This really indicated the need for library
services in the community.

Ms. McVey
introduced guests at the meeting and Mr. Petete asked for any comments.

Lynn
McIntosh, director of the Chickasaw Regional Library System, said she
appreciates the support the system receives from the ODL staff and board.

Jan Sanders,
director, Bartlesville Public Library, said she had traveled around the
country, and Oklahomas public librarian certification program is
a model for other states. ODL worked with the Oklahoma Library Association
to create this program.

Carolyn
Franks, director, Ardmore Public Library, said she is very proud that
ODL has been able to offer statewide online information databases. She
said many libraries would not otherwise be able to offer these information
services to their citizens. She invited the board to visit the new Ardmore
Public Library.

Mr. Petete
thanked the guests for sharing.

At 11:00
a.m., Mr. Harris made a motion to adjourn the open meeting in order to
convene in executive session to discuss the hiring of a new director.
Ms. Knapp seconded the motion. Votes were as follows: Benny Briggs, yes;
James Carter, absent; Jesse Harris, yes; Doyle Kinney, absent; Judi Knapp,
yes; Camilla Means, yes; Clyde Petete, yes. The motion was approved, and
all guests left the room.

At 11:45
a.m., guests were invited back in the room. Mr. Briggs made a motion that
the board reconvene in open session. Mr. Harris seconded the motion. Votes
were as follows: Benny Briggs, yes; James Carter, absent; Jesse Harris,
yes; Doyle Kinney, absent; Judi Knapp, yes; Camilla Means, yes; Clyde
Petete, yes. The motion was approved.

Mr. Briggs
moved that Interim Director Susan McVey be made permanent ODL Director.
Mr. Harris seconded the motion. Votes were as follows: Benny Briggs, yes;
James Carter, absent; Jesse Harris, yes; Doyle Kinney, absent; Judi Knapp,
yes; Camilla Means, yes; Clyde Petete, yes. The motion was approved. Mr.
Petete congratulated Ms. McVey and she received a standing ovation. Ms.
McVey said it will be an honor and a privilege to serve the board.

Mr. Petete
said it was the consensus of the board that a national search be conducted
for a new Deputy Director.

Donna
Skvarla presented a proposal to use $35,000 in fallback federal funds
to conduct an evaluation on the use of Library Services and Technology
Act funds in Oklahoma. She said this was a new requirement under the LSTA
Plan. At the end of the federal five-year plan, state library agencies
must employ an outside consultant to evaluate the use of LSTA funds. Federal
funds may be used for this evaluation.

Dr. June
Lester and other staff of the University of Oklahoma School of Library
and Information Studies would conduct the evaluation.

Deadline
for providing the study to Washington is April, 2002. Focus groups and
surveys will be conducted as part of the evaluation.

Mr. Briggs
asked what baselines would be used for comparison in the evaluation.

Ms. Skvarla
said one requirement of the evaluation is the sharing of personal stories.
An example would be a student who was inspired to enroll in library school
because of the public librarian certification program.

Dr. Lester
said the evaluation team would look at each plan and goal, see what projects
have supported the goal, and how money has been used to meet the needs
identified.

Ms. Skvarla
shared Summer Reading materials with the board and introduced the new
Family Adventures in Science and Math Kit. The new kit features a space
theme to coincide with the Summer Reading theme: Into Books and Out of
This World. Mr. Briggs said he has been particularly impressed with the
Summer Reading Program.

Ms. Skvarla
also reported on a series of successful workshops dealing with early childhood
programs. More than 100 people, representing Oklahoma public libraries,
attended the workshops, held in Kellyville, Coalgate, Anadarko and Fairview.
Persons attending the workshops could apply for LSTA grants to fund early
childhood programs in their libraries. The programs are to help prepare
young minds for a lifetime of learning. Ms. Skvarla said experts say a
childs vocabulary should consist of at least 1,000 words by kindergarten
age.

Mr. Petete
said it was time to honor two special ladies.

Mr. Harris
asked Camilla Means to come forward. He presented a resolution of appreciation
to Ms. Means and thanked her for her service on the board. Mr. Harris
said service on the ODL board was not a highly visible position, but that
serving libraries and intellectual freedom was an important service to
democracy. He noted that many dictatorships begin with the destruction
of libraries.

Ms. Means
received a standing ovation. She said she had gained an enormous respect
for libraries and that she appreciated the staff and their enthusiasm
for their work.

Mr. Petete
asked Syble Robertson to step forward. He presented her with a resolution
of appreciation. Ms. Robertson is retiring after 37 years of service to
the State of Oklahoma and the library community. Ms. Robertson received
a standing ovation.